The task of protecting the UK union cannot be left to the Conservatives, Willie Rennie said yesterday.
He branded the Tories “divisionists” who are only interested in election victory, regardless of the damage done to the relationship between Scotland and England.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader told his party’s conference in Brighton: “In the final arrogant misjudgement , the Tories divided the country in attempt to heal the divisions of the Conservative party.
“That dragged us out of Europe which has put further strains on the unity of the UK.
“No amount of draping themselves in the Union flag and singing Rule Britannia will hide their record of putting the future of the UK at risk.
“The Tories are not the unionists they say they are. They are divisionists.”
Mr Rennie said he wanted to make Scotland the “best in the world again”.
He also criticised the SNP’s record on education, police and mental health, adding they “talk a good game but they are not progressive”.
And he said Nicola Sturgeon had adopted a “special code book” in which “every reasonable-sounding phrase is code for breaking up Britain”.
On Brexit, the north-east Fife MSP said UK party leader Tim Farron had been a “tall statesman” in the aftermath of the vote when others were political pip squeaks”.
He added: “He is right now to demand that the British people should have their say on the final deal in a referendum.
“Voting for departure is not the same as voting for a destination.”